Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Are you balanced like a see-saw or a perpetual motion bobber?

I just finished reading a wonderful anthology, If I Had My Life to Live Over. Each story and poem gave me a snippet glance into my own life and made me realize something. I am glad that I still work. It makes me feel as though I am on a see-saw, a teeter-totter, that board positioned over an elevated center that allows me to find my balance between teaching and writing. If I had all the time in the world to write, I'm afraid I'd be one of those perpetual motion birds that dunk in a glass of liquid. I'd never take a moment to rest. When I read something that trips a memory, I feel compelled to write about it. I'm glad I am not a compulsive person. I usually don't jot my ideas down. When I write, I wing it.

On that note, this old bird is off to the elementary school (our preschool is off site) for Kindergarten Buddy Day. That means, I take both classes, my former preschoolers and my current ones and entertain them while the Kg teacher meets and greets the parents. After thirty two years of teaching, I have so many fun activities to pull out of my sleeve, I can hardly wait to entertain sixty of my favorite little people! Talk about perpetual motion. Them, not me.

6 comments:

Cathy C. Hall said...

Linda, I think you may be on to something. Now that I work full-time writing, I never seem to take a break. If only my bank account reflected all that perpetual motion!

Susan said...

Ha! Had to chuckle at Cathy's comment. I wish my bank account reflected all the perpetual motion, too, but it clearly does NOT. I worked full time up until last June 30, when my job was cut in half, so I resigned. Still deciding what to do when I grow up but I think it's going to be something different....out of the box.....time for change! Anyway, glad you are happy with the little ones. Teaching is a most admirable vocation. You truly get the opportunity to touch all those little peoples' lives. Sincerely, Susan from writingstraightfromtheheart.blogspot.com

Tammy said...

I'm reading Chris Baty's "No Plot? No Problem!" and he claims most people actually write better on that see-saw! It was nice to hear!

Lisa Ricard Claro said...

I guess it depends on what you're doing. Sounds like you're one of the lucky ones, Linda, who loves her day job. I do medical transcription 5-6 hours a day which is straight typing, so to come home and sit at the keyboard for another few hours to write is tough physically. I do it because not writing is harder...does that make sense? I'd love to be able to write full time...sounds like bliss to me! *sigh*

Linda O'Connell said...

I suppose we all want what we don't have and that is human nature. I love decorating cakes and do a darn fine job, but if I HAD to do it, I wouldn't want to. By the way, I am self taught in most everything I do. My kids joke that when they were young I made them stand in front of the Venture Store bakery window and watch the decorators frost cakes. Well, maybe there's a bit of truth to that.

Pat Wahler said...

Wow, sounds like you'll have your hands full. Enjoy!